Callum O’Dowda injury blow for Bristol City as Nigel Pearson explains covid player concerns

Bristol City will be without injured winger or wing-back Callum O’Dowda for the next four to six weeks.

The 23-cap Republic of Ireland international is set for a spell on the sidelines after being withdrawn in the 87th minute of Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Reading.

O’Dowda had come on in the 68th minute to replace Cameron Pring down the left flank for the home side, but had to be withdrawn 19 minutes later.

Centre-back Robbie Cundy replaced the Irishman, whose knee knock will see him out for just over a month, missing an estimated seven to eight Championship games.

Manager Nigel Pearson revealed the news at the pre-Swansea City press conference.

Pearson also explained that Han-Noah Massengo would be examined on Saturday, after the all-action midfielder picked up a hip injury in the win over the Royals, departing after 17 minutes in midweek.

As a contact injury, the Frenchman is expected to be back playing sooner or later but he remains touch and go for the weekend, depending if the 20-year-old makes training on Saturday.

But Pearson has urged caution over the return of Nahki Wells or Dan Bentley, after the pair both returned positive Covid-19 test results recently. How the players react to the illness may not be apparent straightaway.

“Don’t know [if he’ll make Sunday]. He’s been out on the grass today running so who knows,” explained Pearson on the chances of the Bermudian striker returning to the squad for the weekend’s game.

“Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. Covid... We can’t just put one outcome suits everybody.

“We’ve seen players struggle to return to form with it, and we’ve seen players with no ill effects.

“I think if you open that up to the wider population I think that happens to everybody. So we can’t just make the assumption that players who experience Covid can just shake it off in three or four days. It may be another month before it hits them.

“We don’t know. That’s the unpredictability of the situation,” said the manager, who returned to the club on Thursday after a planned routine medical procedure in London during midweek.

Meanwhile, Pearson added that Timm Klose is “a good pro” and that there are no concerns over managing the player’s minutes and matches.

Bristol City expect a tough game against local opposition who like to retain possession when they head to Swansea on Sunday.

The Robins have not won in nine league games on the road, losing seven and drawing two.